Postmarking-machine.



'R. M. SHVIPSON.

POSTMARKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mm FEB. 22. 1916.

1 299,249, Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

\nvcnYov.

R. M. SIMPSON.

POSTMARKlNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED FEB. 21. me.

LQQQQQ. B Patented Apr. 1,1919.

I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

RICHARD MIDDLETON SIMPSON, OF WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAN'D.

POSTMARKING-MAGHINE.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

Application filed February 21, 1916. Serial No. 79,792.

of New Zealand, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPostmarking- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the separating and enumerating mechanism ofpostmarkin% or mailmarking machines.

y this invention the separation and enumeration of letters is effectedwith great accuracy and rapidity.

The separator. consists broadly of a horizontally disposed band orseries of bands preferably of rubber or a-material of similar frictionor retarding surface supported on a frame arranged to rock horizontallywith an adjusting attachment for tension of bands.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention; 1

Figure 1 is a plan showing the separator and enumerator in position on amailmarking table.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan of the separator. Y

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the separator on line A-A Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the separator showing a band in position.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan showing the method of securing the bands.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the enumerator and rollers. j I i Fig. 7is a cross section through line BB of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional plan of the enumeratin spider.

ig. 9 is a sectional elevation on line CC of F ig. 8: l

Fig. 10is a cross sectionfof the upper part of the typelhead, showingthe pulley portion separate from the type head.

1 Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the separator and the enumerator inposition.

The separator consists ofa frame made up of two similar bow shapedportions 1, 2, of which the opposite ends are connected by bars 3, 4,preferably square in cross section.- The bar 4 is surrounded by rubbertubing 6 to prevent the slipping of the bands of rubher or otherretarding material which are Placed around these bars The e ban a alsoplaced around a loose bar 5 (see Fig. 5) which is preferably square incross section and is surrounded by a rubber tube 6 said bar 5 beingadapted to be placed in notches 8, 9, 10 for tensioning of the band atdifferent tensions. The frame is pivotally secured by a pivot 9 situatednearer one end of the frame than the other to a bracket 10 which has aslot 11 in which a set screw is used to secure the bracket to themailmarking table in different positions. A spring 12 connects thenotched end of the frame to a projection 13 on the bracket 10.

The enumerator consists of a hub 14 in which are fixed the ends of thepreferable watch spring legs 15, 16, 17 18 which have curved ends 19,20, 21, 22 and terminate in knobs 23, 24, 25, 26. The fixed ends of thelegs are reinforced by pieces of preferably watch spring'27, 28 on eachside. Disks 29, 30 are secured one on each side of the hub 14 byscrews(seeFig. 9). The hub revolves with a spindle 31 the upper end of whichis journaled ina plate 50 and through bevel gearing 44 operates aspindle 44*, this spindle being connected to a counting and indicatingdevice of any suitable form, which deviceis operated to count andindicate at each quarter revolution of the spindle 31. The bottom disk30 of the hub revolves on a disk which is supported by a bracket 53.

The separator is adjusted so that its retarding surface makes an angleof about 15 with the letter'path 32 on marking table 43,

' its forward edge 33 just projecting ove the letter path but nottouching a feed roller 34. Adjoining this feed roller 34 is another.feed roller 35 and cotiperating therewith a pressure roller 36. A pairof preferably rubber belts 37, 38 connect the feed roller 35 with thepressure roller 36 running in grooves in both rollers so that the innerfaces of thebelts lie in the letter path, leaving a space between themvertically. A similar pair of belts 39, 4O connect pressure roller 36with a pulley 50' on the top of the marking roller 41 in the same way.An inking roller 42 is provided to ink the type head 41. The legs of theenumerator project Fig. 11.

In operation the letters after being faced with the stamped end downwardare fed betweenthe feed roller 34 and the retarding surface 7, of theseparator from whence they ,into the letterpath between the belts, see

are flicked forward one by one by the revolution of the roller 34between the rollers 35 and 36 by the revolution of which they are sentforward being kept upright by and be tween the bands 37, 38, 39, i0. Theforcmost letter impinges on the end 26 of a leg of the enumerator andcarries it forward until it is moved out of the letter path thuscounting one. The next leg 28 is simultaneously brought forward and atfirst presses against the first letter and is thereby bent backward outof the letter path but when this first letter has passed on, the end ofthe leg springs quickly forward across the letter path and comes intoposition to be operated on in the same way by the next letter. Theletters are sent forward by the impetus already given them to be stackedor otherwise dealt with in any known suitable manner.

The separator will require a little adjustment as regards angle with theletter path and position of its forward edge in respect of the feedroller 34: but the best position so far discovered with the rollersshown is as above described.

I claim:

1. A mail separating device comprising in combination a friction roller,and a retarding device cooperating therewith consisting of a supportingmember having flexible means stretched between two spaced points of saidmember, said flexible means being substantially tangential to thesurface of said roller.

2. A mail separating device comprising in combination a friction rollerand a retard ing device cooperating therewith consisting of a sup ortingmember having a plurality of flexib e bands stretched between spacedpoints of said member to provide a flexible surface said surface beingsubstantially tangential to the surface of said roller,

3, A mail separating device comprising in combination a friction rollerand a retarding device cooperating therewith consisting of a supportingmember having flexible means adjustably stretched between spaced pointsof said member, said flexible means being substantially tangential tothe surface of said roller.

4'. A mail separating device comprising in combination a frictionroller, a retarding device cooperating therewith consisting of a bowshaped frame, and flexible means stretched between the ends of saidframe, the surface of said flexible means being substantially tangentialto the surface of said roller.

5. A mail separating device comprising, in combination a frictionroller, a retarding device cooperating therewith consisting. of a frame,bars carried by said frame and spaced from each other, flexible meansstretched between said bars to form a flexible plane surface tangentialto the surface of said roller, and means permitting variation of thedistance between said bars to vary the tension of said flexible means.

(3. A mail separating device comprising in combination a friction rollerand a retarding device cooperating therewith consisting of a pivotallymounted member having flexible means stretched between spaced pointsthereof to provide a plane surface substantially tangential to thesurface of the roller.

7. A mail separating device comprising in combination a friction rollerand a retarding device cooperating therewith consisting of a pivotallymounted member having a plane surface tangential to the surface of saidroller and movable about its pivot to permit passage of a letter, andresilient igieans resisting such movement of the mem- 8. A mailseparating device comprising in combination a friction roller and aretarding device cooperating therewith consisting of a pivotally mountedbow-shaped frame having a plurality of flexible bands stretched betweenthe ends thereof to provide a plane surface substantially tangential tothe sur face of said roller, and movable about its pivot to permitpassage ofaletter, and resilient means resisting such movement of theframe.

9. A mail separating device comprising a friction roller, and abow-shaped pivotally mounted frame having friction bands thereon toprovide a surface adjacent to and cooperating with the surface of theroller, and means for varying the tension of said bands.

10. A mail separating device comprising a friction roller, a framehaving bands thereon, the plane of saidband surface being substantiallytangential to the surface of the roller, and means for moving said frametoward or away from the axis of the roller, for the purpose set forth.

11. The combination with a mail separating device and a marking roller,of conveyer means consisting of a plurality of parallel belts engagingthe opposite sides of the letter, certain of said belts frictionallyengaging and directly driving said roller.

12. A mail separating device comprising a friction roller, a bow-shapedpivotally mounted frame carrying bars, friction bands sion of saidbands, of conveyer means-consisting of a plurality of parallel beltsengag ing opposite sides of the letter.

14:. The combination with a mail separating device, of a pressure rolleropposed by a feed roller, another pressure roller opposed by a markingroller, a belt running around said first named pressure roller and saidmarking roller to directly drive the latter, another belt running aroundsaid second named pressure roller and said feed roller, the proximatesurfaces of said belts providing a letter path tangential to the markingsurface of said roller.

15. .A mail separating device comprising a feed roller, means forholding a block of laminated pieces adjustably engaging their endsobliquely, a pressure roller opposed by a feed roller, another pressureroller opposed by a marking roller, a belt running around said firstnamed pressure roller and said marking roller to directly drive thelatter, another belt running around said second named pressure rollerand said feed roller, the proximate surfaces of said belts providing aletter path tangential to the marking surface of said roller.

In testimony whereof he has afiixed his signature in presence of twowitnesses.

ANDREW J OHN PARK, GRACE SHELDRAKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of ratents,

' Washington, D. G.

